Floor structure

ABSTRACT

A concrete underfloor has an arched upper surface provided with recesses. A plurality of floor lining strips of rubber or plastics are arranged side by side on the underfloor. Each strip has a bottom part in contact with the concrete, at least two downward-directed projections engaging the corresponding recesses in the underfloor, an arched top portion integral with the bottom portion in the region of the projections and defining with the intermediate part of the bottom portion an elongated cavity.

O Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,824,960 Kaltenbock [4 July 23, 1974[5 1 FLOOR STRUCTURE 1,874,644 8/l932 Shodron 119/28 Inventor: KarlKaltenbock, Ganneukirchen, 3,528,391 9/l970 Johnson 119/28 Ausma PrimaryExaminer-Robefl Peshock [73] Assignee: Sentperit Aktiengesellschaft,Vienna, Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Austria Attorney, Agent, orFirmEmest F. Marmorek [22] Flledz Apr. 2, 1973 ABSTRACT [21] Appl 347l83A concrete underfloor has an arched upper surface provided withrecesses. A plurality of floor lining [52] US. Cl. 119/28, 52/599 stripsof rubber or p ics a e arranged side by side on [51] Int. Cl E04t 15/10the undcrfloora str p has a bottom part in contact 5 Field f Search 1192 51 53 53 59 with the concrete, at least two downward-directed 51/599projections engaging the corresponding recesses in the underfloor, anarched top portion integral with the [56] R feren Cit d bottom portionin the region of the projections and UNITED STATES PATENTS defining withthe intermediate part of the bottom por- 458,788 9/1891 Jungbluth 119/28an elongated cavity 7 861,882 7/1907 Noppel 119/28 15 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures PATENTEUJUL23IQM SHEET 2 (IF 4 FLOOR STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Thepresent invention relates to floor structures.

There is disclosed in German Patent Publication No. 2,055,959, a floorstructure which is particularly useful for cattle stalls, whichstructure comprises a floor lining of rubber or synthetic plasticsmaterial and an underfloor. The floor lining has substantiallydownwarddirected projections which engage in corresponding recesses inthe underfloor, part of the lining located between the projections beingarched in relation to the underfloor and thus forming cavities.

This kind of floor structure provides for the cattle a soft, anti-sliparea on which to lie, which at the same time is a good insulator.However, in the practical application of this kind of floor structuredifficulties have been encountered. If all of those portions, of thelining located between the projections are arched and thus form cavitiesin relation to the underfloor, then when it is laid for example on newconcrete, crumbling can occur and the fragments thus produced reduce thecross-section of the cavities in an uncontrolled manner so that theresilience of the lining becomes very irregular. When the arched profileis trodden down, the inside of the material scrubs against the surfaceof the underfloor which may be, for example, rough concrete. Moreoverparticularly where substantially cylindrical archedlining profiles areused, these open profiles are extremely difficult tomanufacture in aneconomical extruding operation.

An object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention therefore consists in a floorstructure comprising a floor lining of rubber or synthetic plasticsmaterial and an underfloor, the floor lining having substantiallydownward-directed projections which engage in corresponding recesses inthe underfloor and parts of the lining located between said projectionsbeing arched in relation to the underfloor to form cavities in thelining, wherein said cavities, at least viewed in cross-sectiongaresurrounded on all sides by thematerial ofwhich the floor lining ismade.

Thus, the cavities are contained in the body of the floor lining itselfso that when laying the floor lining on the underfloor, it is not onlythe projections but also a complete bottom surface area of the floorlining which comes into contact with the underfloor and protects theoverlying cavities which are closed off at the top by the archedportions of the lining. The effect of the cavities on an animal lying onthe floor or in relation to the hooves of standing or walking animals,is thus a more uniform one.

Advantageously, the floor lining may be produced as an extruded strip.By the formation of cavities in the cross-section of the extruded strip,the latter can be manufactured particularly simply and can, for example,

if it is made of rubber, be subjected to a vulcanising operation,without experiencing any substantial distortion.

Although it is possible, depending upon the desired application, to usefor the floor structure in accordance withthe invention individual floorlining strips which, viewed in cross-section, contain only one cavity,ithas nevertheless been found advantageous if the floor lining strip, incross-section, has at least two adjacent and substantially identicalcavities which are separated by substantially vertical webs having aheight which is less than the height of the floor lining in the cavityzone.

Thus, not only can the extrusion moulding machine be more inventivelyexploited, but the operation of laying can be rationalised too.Moreover, there is a reduced likelihood of failure at the points betweenindividual lining strips. The depressions formed between the archedportions which cover over the cavities, improve the elasticity andsoftness of the lining because the bodies or hooves of the cattle firstof all make contact with the raised, arched points, and the depressionsalso facilitate discharge of water. Again, these depressions provide theskins of animals which are lying down, with a better opportunity tobreathe.

The whole surface of the floor' lining strip may be arched upwards, asviewed in cross-section. The effect of this kind of arching, whichproduces the aforementioned advantages, is reinforced by providing thefloor lining, as seen in cross-section, with at least three cavitiesbetween which partition walls are disposed, said walls making an angleother than 90 and preferably an angle of substantially with theunderfloor. By avoiding vertical partition walls, the desired cushioningeffect is still further improved. It is also particularly advantageousto give the two outermost cavities substantially the samecross-sections, for example wing-shaped and possibly of enantiomorphicconfiguration and giving the centre cavity an approximately triangularcrosssection. This kind of floor lining strip combines optimumresistance to' high specific loading by cattle hooves, with optimumsoftness and elasticity, and thus optimum comfort for the animals whenthey are lying down.

Two different methods of arranging a floor structure in accordance withthe invention have been found convenient. In the first case, the floorlining strips extend transversely of the standing and, seen in thelongitudinal direction of the standing, the strips have no gaps, or atany rate only small ones therebetween being furthermore anchored in theunderfloor in an upwardly arched fashion considered in longitudinalsection and thus in the transverse direction of the standing. Thisarrangement uses a plurality of relatively short floor lining strips,substantially equal to the width of the standing which for example isabout cm, these strips succeeding one another over the full length ofthe standing. This arrangement amongst other things facilitates thelateral discharge of water, which only has a short distance to flow,particularly if the floor lining strips are anchored in the underfloorso that in the longitudinal section, i.e.,' in the transverse section ofthe standing, they are arched upwards. The shortness of the floor linerstrips facilitates their laying in this case.

On the other hand, it has been found convenient to embed one or morefloor lining strips in concrete slabs or beams of substantially the samewidth and to use these as finished elements for the manufacture of stripfloors or cattle standings.

In order to still further improve the cushioning effect of the floorlining strips and to maintain this effect over the full period ofservice of the floor structure, it is preferable for the cavities in thefloor lining strips to be closed off at least at one end. By this means,when suddenly compressed by cattle hooves, the air in the cavities isprevented from escaping too quickly and it is also ensured that thecavities do not, over a period of time, become blockedwith dirt andrefuse from the ends of the strips, and thereby lose their cushioneffect. Such accumulation of dirt and refuse would also form breedinggrounds for infections or parasites. The closing off of the ends of theextruded strips can be produced by clamping them together, by coversections adhered in place and/or by extending the material of theunderfloor upwards, in extension of the strip, to reach the surface ofthe latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some exemplary embodiments of theinvention will now be described with reference to-the' accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 each show an embodiment of a floor lining strip incross-section and on an underfloor;

FIGS. 3. and 4 each show an-embodiment of a floor structure inperspective and in the installed condition; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the' floor lining strip end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows an'underfloorl consisting for exampleof concrete, in which are embedded projections 5 of a striplike lining2. The lining is provided, in arched areas 3, with cavities 4 having anelongated, flat section. These cavities in the lining are, viewed incross-section, surrounded on all sides by the material of the lining 2.In this embodiment the cross-section of the floor lining strip 2 havetwo cavities 4 which are separated by a web 14 having a height h whichis less than the height H in the arched area 3 so that between the twoarched areas 3 a groove or depression is formed.

In the embodiment shown .in FIG. 2, the projections 5 of a floor liningstrip 2' are embedded in a substructure 10 having a beamlikecross-section. The floor lining 2' in this case has three cavities inits cross-section, the two outer ones 4a of which correspond to theelongated flat cavities 4 of the first embodiment, but have awing-shaped profile, their configurations being enan- FIG. 3 shows aplurality of floor lining strips 2 laid in an underfloor 1 and runningin a direction 16 which is transverse to that which will be assumed bystanding cattle. The ends 13 or the strips 2, which extend along thesides of the standing, are closed or sealed off by cover elements 12which are fixed in position by an adhesive or otherwise adhered.According to another feature of this invention, the whole surface of thefloor lining strips is arched or domed upwards also in the longitudinaldirection 16.

FIG. 4 shows a floor structure in which floor lining strips 2 areincorporated into beam-like concrete substructures la having the samewidth as the strips 2'. At

each end 13 of the strips 2', the beam-like concrete substructure 1a isflush with the top surface 15 of the strips 2 so that the cavities inthe extruded strips, which would otherwise be exposed, are closed off.Between the beam-like elements, there are spaces 11 through which faecescan be discharged into a pit or a duct 17.

FIG. 5 is a view from below of the end of a floor lining strip .2designed for embedding in concrete for example.'At this end and over ashort length of about 4 cm, the bottom part 18 of the strip 2 is cut outin order to enable a solid concrete stop to be formed at this location.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I Having thus described the invention, which I claim as new and desireto be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows: I

1. A floor structure, particularly for use in a stall, fo example acattle stall,

comprising in combination,

an underfloor of a substantially rigid material having a plurality ofundercut recesses,

a floor lining of resilient material including elongated members eachhaving -a bottom portion in contact with said underfloor, and

each including downwardly directed projections engaging said recesses insaid underfloor,

atop portion integral with said bottom portion in the region of saidprojections and having an arched part directed upwards in the zonebetween said projections to define with said bottom portion at least oneelongated cavity. v

2. A floor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each elongatedmember is an extruded strip.

3. A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each strip, viewedin cross-section, has at least two adjacent similar cavities separatedby upright webs having a height which is less than that of the archedparts of v the lining.

4.,A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the whole surface ofthe floor lining viewed in longitudinal direction of said strip isarched upwards.

5. A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each strip viewed incross-section has at least three cavities, partition walls between saidcavities, said walls making an angle other than with the underfloor.

6. A floor structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two outermostcavities have a similar cross-section, and the center cavity has anapproximately triangular cross-section.

7. A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, said stalls being elongated,wherein several of said floor lining strips extend side by side on saidunderfloor transversely to the direction of elongation of said stalls.

8. A floor structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said underfloor isarched transversely to the direction of elongation of said stalls.

9. A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of theends of said cavities in the floor lining strips are closed off.

10. A floor structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is includedmeans for clamping together the open ends of each floor lining strip.

11. A floor structure asclaimed in claim 9, wherein there are includedcover elements adhered to the end face of each floor lining strip.

12. A floor structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the underfloormaterial comes up against the ends of the floor lining strips.

13. A floor structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein each floor liningstrip is embedded in a concrete beam of substantially the same width,the concrete extending beyond the ends of the strips and reaching thetop level thereof.

14. A floor structure, particularly for use in a stall, for example anelongated cattle stall,

comprising in combination,

an underfloor that is arched transversely to the direction of elongationof the stall and made of a substantially rigid material having aplurality of recesses,

a floor lining of resilient material including elongated, extruded stripmembers extending side'by side on said underfloor transversely to thedirection of elongation of the stall and each having a bottom portion incontact with said underfloor, and

each including downwardly directed projections engaging said recesses insaid underfloor,

a top portion integral with said bottom portion in the 6 7 region ofsaid projections and being arched upwards in the zone between saidprojections to define with said bottom portion at least one elongatedcavity.

15. A floor structure, particularly for use in a stall,

for example a cattle stall,

comprising in combination,

an underfloor of a substantially rigid material having a plurality ofrecesses,

a floor lining of resilient material including elongated, extruded stripmembers each having a bottom portion in contact with said underfloor,and each including downwardly directed projections engaging saidrecesses in said underfloor,

a top portion integral with said bottom portion in the region of saidprojections and being arched upwards in the zone between saidprojections to define with said bottom portion at least one elongatedcavity, the ends of which are closed off,

said underfloor being defined by a concrete beam in which said stripmembers are embedded, said concrete beam being of substantially the samewidth and extending beyond the ends of said strip members, said concretebeam reaching the top level of said strip members.

1. A floor structure, particularly for use in a stall, for example acattle stall, comprising in combination, an underfloor of asubstantially rigid material having a plurality of undercut recesses, afloor lining of resilient material including elongated members eachhaving a bottom portion in contact with said underfloor, and eachincluding downwardly directed projections engaging said recesses in saidunderfloor, a top portion integral with said bottom portion in theregion of said projections and having an arched part directed upwards inthe zone between said projections to define with said bottom portion atleast one elongated cavity.
 2. A floor structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein each elongated member is an extruded strip.
 3. A floor structureas claimed in claim 2, wherein each strip, viewed in cross-section, hasat least two adjacent similar cavities separated by upright webs havinga height which is less than that of the arched parts of the lining.
 4. Afloor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the whole surface of thefloor lining viewed in longitudinal direction of said strip is archedupwards.
 5. A floor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each stripviewed in cross-section has at least three cavities, partition wallsbetween said cavities, said walls making an angle other than 90* withthe underfloor.
 6. A floor structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein thetwo outermost cavities have a similar cross-section, and the centercavity has an approximately triangular cross-section.
 7. A floorstructure as claimed in claim 2, said stalls being elongated, whereinseveral of said floor lining strips extend side by side on saidunderfloor transversely to the direction of elongation of said stalls.8. A floor structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said underfloor isarched transversely to the direction of elongation of said stalls.
 9. Afloor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the endsof said cavities in the floor lining strips are closed off.
 10. A floorstructure as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is included means forclamping together the open ends of each floor lining strip.
 11. A floorstructure as claimed in claim 9, wherein there are included coverelements adhered to the end face of each floor lining strip.
 12. A floorstructure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the underfloor material comesup against the ends of the floor lining strips.
 13. A floor structure asclaimed in claim 9, wherein each floor lining strip is embedded in aconcrete beam of substantially the same width, the concrete extendingbeyond the ends of the strips and reaching the top level thereof.
 14. Afloor structure, particularly for use in a stall, for example anelongated cattle stall, comprising in combination, an underfloor that isarched transversely to the direction of elongation of the stall and madeof a substantially rigid material having a plurality of recesses, afloor lining of resilient material including elongated, extruded stripmembers extending side by side on said underfloor transversely to thedirection of elongation of the stall and each having a bottom portion incontact with said underfloor, and each including downwardly directedprojections engaging said recesses in said underfloor, a top portionintegral with said bottom portion in the region of said projections andbeing arched upwards in the zone between said projections to define withsaid bottom portion at least one elongated cavity.
 15. A floorstructure, particularly for use in a stall, for example a cattle stall,comprising in combination, an underfloor of a substantially rigidmaterial having a plurality of recesses, a floor lining of resilientmaterial Including elongated, extruded strip members each having abottom portion in contact with said underfloor, and each includingdownwardly directed projections engaging said recesses in saidunderfloor, a top portion integral with said bottom portion in theregion of said projections and being arched upwards in the zone betweensaid projections to define with said bottom portion at least oneelongated cavity, the ends of which are closed off, said underfloorbeing defined by a concrete beam in which said strip members areembedded, said concrete beam being of substantially the same width andextending beyond the ends of said strip members, said concrete beamreaching the top level of said strip members.